Disruptive car maker Tesla Inc (NASDAQ:TSLA) is freely reimagining every aspect of the modern auto experience- from how cars are purchased to the energy they need to drive. And this innovative strategy is paying off – Tesla’s market valuation soared an extraordinary 40% this year to over $50 billion. Now Tesla is now worth more than major auto players like Ford or General Motors. To put this into perspective, Tesla made 84,000 cars last year- which equates to about 1% of Ford’s annual sales. Even CEO Elon Musk says: “I do believe this market cap is higher than we have any right to deserve”.

On the other end of the spectrum, traditional automaker Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) has just been forced to fire CEO Mark Fields and replaced him with more tech-focused Jim Hackett. During Field’s three years as Ford CEO the stock fell by a whopping 40% to just $11. Tellingly, Hackett was promoted from his position as head of Ford’s driverless car division, Ford Smart Mobile founded in 2016. He is now tasked with pushing the company into the mobility space and modernizing Ford’s business via big data, AI, advanced robotics, and 3D printing.

But headlines can be deceiving. Can Tesla really have an edge over Ford? We wanted to take a closer look at what is really happening in this increasingly tense industry.

A compelling vision

With visionary CEO Elon Musk leading the way, the Tesla brand presents a clear and exciting vision of what the auto industry could look like in the next decade. Ford shows us what the market looks like today. Tesla shows us what it could look like tomorrow. For example Tesla vehicles boast a very impressive internet-connected and centralized operating software which is accessed via a powerful installed touchscreen. As well as autonomous driving, drivers can also control features such as the sun roof, climate, radio, maps, as well as smart phone interaction. One day it may even be possible for the cars to wirelessly recharge themselves.